play2PREVENT Lab

The play2PREVENT Lab, which is part of the Yale Center for Health & Learning Games, focuses on the use of “play,” in the form of videogame play, for the purposes of health promotion, risk reduction, social good, and educational interventions. We harness videogame technology to create engaging and effective methods to convey information and teach skills that lead to behavior change, translating to healthier and safer lives.

We develop and evaluate videogame interventions focused on behavior change, education, health, well-being, and social intelligence, using the most rigorous scientific methods and metrics available. Our games have the capacity to deliver these effective interventions with much greater engagement, fidelity, reach, scalability, and impact.

Our lab brings together the expertise of leaders in their respective fields, including behavioral and medical scientists, community leaders, educators, and serious and commercial videogame designers and developers to serve as a growing resource for videogame interventions directed at prevention. Our games focus on a variety of issues and behaviors including HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, tobacco use, unintended pregnancy, obesity, unsafe driving, youth violence, bullying, and other conditions and behaviors that negatively impact young people.